The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-01-14
MONEYkAfuACS OF NEW YORK.
Peculiar Habits of Rich Man-NIiscries
and DcprivatiOns of Misers.

and DeprivatiOns OF Misers.
There Is a sunken eyed old man whom
meet every night that ] stroll up Fifth
avenue somewhere between Washington
square and Twcnty-third street. l must
have known this phantom a good fifteen
years. lIo lives in garnet within stone s
throw of the square, and Is the owner Of
much valuable property. In the early days
of our acquaintance used to encounter him
strolling in the park munching French
roll, crumb by crumb. This was his break
fast. II he eats another meal it is probably
of the same order. His dress is that of a
vagrant, but his conversation is that of an
educated man. He is especially happy in re-
counting "reminiscences of the New York Of
two generations ago, and has Travelled a
couple Of miles at time with me to point
out vanished landmarks in which happened
to be interested. won his regard early by
giving him car fare after each of these
jaunts. He pouched the money and walked
back.
This man is true miser, but not a beggar.
A much more complete specimen is another
old follow whom got to know while making
notes in tho Astor library. He carried crusts
of bread in his pocket and ate them bit by
bit as he huddled over his book all day long,
His miserable dress, his haggard face and
wasted figure inspired me with pity and
opened an acquaintanceship with him.
When worked all day was in the habit of
lunching in convenient beer shop of Bohe-
milan renown, and I once invited him to join
me. Thereafter he did it daily without in
vitatiqn. When my work at the library was
finished he got to haunting my house. Every
evening he would lie in wait for me and levy
toll to the sun Of dime for his dinner, as
he said. One night prominent real estate
agent came up as was making this contri-
button and greeted my pensioner by name.
When he had shuffled off tho agent laughed
at me for my modest liberality. learned
from him that my haggard friend was re-
tired real estate speculator and worth at
least half million in property He lived,
and indeed lives still, in hallway which he
has converted into a sort of bedroom in
the basement of one of his own houses. The
rest of the basement is let out to rag and
paper man, so that the miser is in congenial
quarters
There are two moneymaniacs that l know
so well that have been able to make some
curious studies of their characters and
habits. I could hardly count those whom
know casually or merely by sight or repute.
They come of all grades and walks of life
There are among them men who were origi
nally merchants, lawyers, doctors Of medi-
cine and of divinity, mechanics and even
laboring men. The miseries they
subject themselves to and the deprivations
they endure to save cent are quite incredi-
ble Each man has his own shifts and de-
vices, and each his pet mania. One gathers
pins as if they were gold, and travels with
his shabby breast stuck SO full of them that
it looks like pincushion. Another collects
Advertising dodgers with an avidity that |
would do honor to bank bills They seem to
% under the pressure of an incessant craze
% acquire something or nothing, however
worthless it may be- and probably experience
Is acute pang at the loss of pin or hand
dill as they would at that of one of their
boarded dollars. Alfred Tumble in New
York News.